God's Generosity in Nature

by: Darren Pries-Klassen

It is difficult to discuss stewardship without talking about money. Christians readily agree that stewardship is a broad topic including the use of our abilities and skills, our energy and our time but start talking about the stewardship of time and sooner or later you’ll hear something like, "great idea, but it isn’t worth my time”. Talk about stewardship of one’s talents and inevitably someone will place a monetary value on your contribution. It seems that no matter where the stewardship discussion begins, inevitably it is talked about in economic terms.

As I write this I am enjoying the beautiful sunshine streaming through my office window. We are experiencing the first few days of spring-like weather and it is nothing short of glorious. Yesterday, as I watched my neighbour and her young son gardening, I was reminded of the generosity God gives us in the form of creation. As they raked leaves from the flowerbeds the shoots from crocuses and hyacinths became visible. The first stages of spring had arrived.

Think for a moment of the perfect balance of the seasons, which allow trees to lie dormant in the winter and then spring to life as the temperature rises. A perfect balance of temperature, sunlight, moisture and nutrients are required for this to happen. Although the sun is hotter than any of us can imagine, all creation on earth is a perfect distance away so as to enjoy warmth in the summer and cooler temperatures in the winter. If the earth were any closer or further from the sun this perfect balance would be destroyed and so too, would all living things on Earth.

This is the time of year when the evidence of God’s generosity is most clear to me. Yesterday I was once again reminded that the perfect balance that God created started long ago when God first made the world. Unlike other stewardship topics it is hard to discuss the beauty of God’s creation in economic terms. God has proven Himself as the ultimate model and maker of generosity and we are hard pressed to put a price tag on the things that God has given us. Isn’t it ironic that a dollar value can be given to all things made and designed by humans yet those things, which only God can give, remain priceless?